Former Iowa All-American defensive tackle Jared DeVries will return to Iowa City this weekend to serve as the Hawkeyes’ honorary captain for Saturday’s Black and Gold Spirit Game against Northwestern.

DeVries played at Iowa from 1995-98 and still holds school records in tackles for a loss in a season (22) and career (78) and career sacks (42). He was a three-time all-Big Ten selection and was the conference’s Lineman of the Year in 1997.

The Aplingonton, Iowa, native was named MVP of Iowa’s wins in both the 1995 Sun Bowl and 1996 Alamo Bowl. He was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1998.

DeVries was taken by Detroit in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft and played with the Lions for his entire 12-year professional career.

He’ll participate in the coin toss for the annual Black and Gold Spirit Game; fans seated in odd-numbered sections of Kinnick Stadium are asked to wear black and those in even-numbered sections should wear gold. All students should be in black.

Iowa will also attempt its first-ever card stunt, in which fans will be asked to hold up colored cards on cue that will portray a pair of images to those watching on the Big Ten Network.

Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

— by Seth Roberts